For June 12



Bloated list

“You are correct regarding the school system’s bloated list of high dollar staff. Is our enrollment growing so fast to add these people or are these new positions just to use up SPLOST dollars? Do we need changes on board, administrators or both?”



Political signs

“I’ve noticed that some of the candidates are putting their signs on public right of way. That’s against the law. If they will break the rules to get elected, what will they do once elected?”



Gasoline pricing

“The wholesale price of gasoline has dropped 20 cents a gallon over the last two weeks. I was curious when we would see a reflection of this at the retail level?”



Pettiness

“Commissioner Strong has more to worry about in county business than to worry about the petty differences with Billy Mock. Get on with business.”



In response

“Columnist Simon summed up Reagan’s life accurately. Reagan left the virtues of the heartland far behind and became a creature of Hollywood where fable becomes fact and deception rules.”



ATVs do kill

“Nice steal from the gun lovers’ bumper stickers but sorry, ATV’s do kill.

“They are heavy, bulky and don’t offer overhead protection when they tip over with riders who are not required to wear head gear.”



Religion

“Mr. Walden, thanks for your column on religion in Friday’s Observer. I totally agree with your thoughts. Someone earlier had written in the rants and raves that religion is best worn in the heart and not on the sleeve.

“Today we have a great freedom of religion but more and more I see it on the sleeve rather than in practical application as was intended.”



May wisdom rule

“For anyone to call for the collapse of our public school system under the guise of religion or whatever banner they might carry is totally ridiculous, irresponsible and even unconscionable.

“However, part of the cost of doing democracy is to allow fools to speak. Meanwhile, let’s just pray that wisdom will prevail.”



Education

“In Mr. Walden’s column Friday, June 11, he said that some people would just as soon have our kids sitting on buckets at hand-hewn desks and ciphering on slates.

“He’s right. I know some of those people. And they are the same ones who will gripe about our teachers not teaching and our kids not learning. This is not ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ This is about now and the future. And I doubt those people who would have our kids equipped in such fashion would go back to washing clothes on scrub boards and taking a bath in a tub on the back porch.”



Where were you?

“To all you people fussing about taxes, roads and the number of people in school administration: Where were you when qualification for public office opened?”